After a brief break last week, the Scottish Episcopal Church and 13 other denominations join together in prayer again on Sunday at 7pm, as they have done throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

Many of those joining together in prayer, which appears in English and Gaelic below, will also light candles.

In a joint message, church leaders in Scotland said:

“During these past months, we have been disturbed and disturbed profoundly. All that we had taken for granted, up until even a year ago, seems to be placed into question. Things are not as they were and we do not yet know how they will be.

“The disciples of Jesus had been disturbed and disturbed profoundly by all that had happened in the events leading up to his crucifixion. The reports that had come to them since that time had, in a sense, disturbed them even more. All that they had taken for granted seemed to be placed into question and they remained afraid. It is to those disciples that Jesus comes and speaks these words: ‘Peace be with you.’ The Risen Lord stands among them and his word is: ‘Peace be with you.’ So disturbed have they been that they react with fear and doubt. In response, Jesus invites them to reach out as his presence is renewed and revealed. (Luke 24: 36-48)

“In the providence of God, we give thanks for the progress that we have made as a society in addressing the challenges of our times. In the providence of God, we give thanks for the presence of the Risen Lord whose word to us today is: ‘Peace be with you.’”

Living God,
Your word to us through the Risen Lord is:
Peace be with you.
Amidst the disturbance of the times,
May we hear your word and embrace the peace you offer.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Living God,
Your word to us through the Risen Lord is:
Peace be with you.
When the foundations are shaken and the certainties no longer sure,
May you speak to us in the still small voice of calm.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Living God,
Your word to us through the Risen Lord is:
Peace be with you.
When we are fearful and troubled,
May you speak to the depths of our fears and still our troubled hearts.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Living God,
Your word to us through the Risen Lord is:
Peace be with you.
As we hear his voice,
May we reach out to the One whose presence is renewed and revealed before us.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Living God,
Your word to us through the Risen Lord is:
Peace be with you.
As we experience the renewal of life within our family and community,
May we bear witness to your abiding presence among us.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Signed by:

Most Rev. Mark Strange, Primus, on behalf of the College of Bishops, Scottish Episcopal Church
Rt. Rev. Dr Martin Fair, Moderator of the General Assembly, Church of Scotland
Most Rev. Leo Cushley, Archbishop of St. Andrews and Edinburgh, Roman Catholic Church
Rev. John Fulton, Moderator, United Free Church of Scotland
Rev. Donnie G. MacDonald, Moderator, Free Church of Scotland
Rev. Paul Whittle, Moderator, United Reformed Church (Scotland)
Rev. Martin Hodson, General Director, Baptist Union of Scotland
Rev. Mark Slaney, District Chair, Methodist Church (Scotland)
Rev. May-Kane Logan, Chair, Congregational Federation in Scotland
Lt. Col. Carol Bailey, Secretary for Scotland, Salvation Army
Adwoa Bittle, Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
Rev. Claire Fender, District Superintendent, British Isles North District, Church of the Nazarene
Pastor Chris Gbenle, Provincial Pastor, Province of Scotland, Redeemed Christian Church of God
Bishop Francis Alao, Church of God (Scotland)/Minority Ethnic Churches Together in Scotland (MECTIS)
Rev Fred Drummond, Director, Evangelical Alliance (Scotland)

Gairm gu ùrnaigh: Latha na Sàbaid, 18mh dhen Ghiblean, ùrnaigh aig 7f

Thairis air a’ bhliadhna seo chaidh, tha sinn air a bhith fo dhragh mòr. Tha rudan air an robh coltas seasmhach bliadhna air ais a-nis mì-chinnteach. Chan eil rudan mar a bha iad, agus chan eil fhios againn fhathast mar a bhitheas iad san àm ri teachd.

Bha deisciobail Ìosa fo dhràgh mòr leis a h-ùile rad a thachair an lùib a cheusaidh. Agus bha iad tro chèile ann an da-rìreadh leis na h-aithrisean a chuala iad às dèidh a cheusaidh cuideachd. Bha rudan air an robh coltas seasmhach roimhe a-nis mì-chìnnteach, agus bha an t-eagal orra. Agus am meadhain an eagail sin, thàinig Ìosa thuca, agus thuirt e: “Sìth dhuibh.” Sheas Tighearna na h-aiseirighe nam measg, agus thuirt e: “Sìth dhuibh.” Bha iad fo dhragh cho mòr ’s gun chuala iad na briathran seo le eagal agus teagamh. Agus mar sin, dhearbh Ìosa a làthaireachd dhaibh, agus dh’fhoillsich e e fhein dhaibh as ùr. (Lùcas 24: 36 – 48).

A’ gabhail ri freasdal Dhè, tha sinn a’ toirt taing airson an adhartais a rinn ar co-chomunnleis a’ bhioras. A’ gabhail ri freasdal Dhè, tha sinn a’ toirt taing airson làthaireachd Tighearna na h-Aiseirighe, a tha a’ labhairt rinn an-diugh, ag ràdh, “Sìth dhuibh.”

A Dhè bheò,
Is e do theachdaireachd dhuinn tro Thighearna na h-Aiseirighe:
Sìth dhuibh.
Am measg na draghan a tha gar cuairteachadh,
dèonaich gun cluinn sinn d’ Fhacal agus gun gabh sinn rid shìth.
A Thighearna, na do thròcair,
èist ri ar n-ùrnaigh.

A Dhè bheò,
Is e do theachdaireachd dhuinn tro Thighearna na h-Aiseirighe:
Sìth dhuibh.
Nuair a bhios gach rud air a chrathadh,
agus mì-chinnt air gach taobh,
Labhair rinn nad ghuth ciùin, caol.
A Thighearna, na do thròcair,
èist ri ar n-ùrnaigh.

A Dhè bheò,
Is e do theachdaireachd dhuinn tro Thighearna na h-Aiseirighe:
Sìth dhuibh.
Nuair a bhios sinn fo eagal is fo thrioblaid,
labhair rinn, agus thoir dhuinn do shìth nar cridheachan.
A Thighearna, na do thròcair,
èist ri ar n-ùrnaigh.

A Dhè bheò,
Is e do theachdaireachd dhuinn tro Thighearna na h-Aiseirighe:
Sìth dhuibh.
Nuair a chluinneas sinn a ghuth,
deònaich gun gabh sinn ri làthaireachd an Tì a tha air fhoillseachadh dhuinn nad Fhacal.
A Thighearna, na do thròcair,
èist ri ar n-ùrnaigh.

A Dhè bheò,
Is e do theachdaireachd dhuinn tro Thighearna na h-Aiseirighe:
Sìth dhuibh.
A-nis, agus beatha ar coimhearsnachd a’ fosgladh a-rithist beag air bheag,
thoir dhuinn gràs agus neart gus fianais a thogail mud làthaireachd nar measg.
A Thighearna, na do thròcair,
èist ri ar n-ùrnaigh.

Soidhnichte:

Am Fìor Urramach Marcus Strange, Primus as leth Colaiste nan Easbaigean, Eaglais Easbaigeach na h-Alba
An Ceart Urramach Màrtainn Fair, Moderàtor Àrd-Sheanadh Eaglais na h-Alba
Am Fìor Urramach Leo Cushley, Àrd-Easbaig Chill Rìmhinn agus Dùn Èideann
An t-Urramach Iain Fulton, Moderàtor, Eaglais Shaor Aonaichte na h-Alba
An t-Urramach Pòl Whittle, Moderàtor, Eaglais Ath-Leasaichte Aonaichte (Alba)
An t-Urramach Dòmhnall G. Dòmhnallach, Moderàtor, an Eaglais Shaor
An t-Urramach Màrtainn Hodson, Àrd-Stiùiriche, Aonadh Baisteach na h-Alba
An t-Urramach Marcus Slaney, Cathraiche Roinn-Dùthcha, Eaglais nam Methodach (Alba)
An t-Urramach May-Kane Logan, Cathraiche, Caidreachas Co-thionalach ann an Alba
Lt. Col. Carol Bailey, Rùnaire na h-Alba, Feachd na Slàinte
Adwao Bittle, Comann nan Caraidean (Cuagairean)
An t-Urramach Claire Fender, Àrd-Neach-Stiùiridh Roinn-Dùthcha, Eileanan Bhreatainn, Eaglais an Nàsaraich
Aoghaire Chris Gbenle, Aoghaire Roinn-Dùthcha, Mòr-Roinn na h-Alba, Eaglais Chrìosdal air Saoradh le Dia
Easbaig Francis Alao, Eaglais Dhè (Alba)/ Eaglaisean nam mìon-shluagh còmhla ann an Alba (MECTIS)
An t-Urramach Fred Drummond, Stiùiriche, Caidreachas Soisgeulach (Alba)